April 10, 2007

Borderline gypsies on the border

Paula and I are in British Columbia Canada. When we take a stroll near our RV park we like to head down towards the ocean. The avenue we walk along is a quiet typical Canadian street, except for one small detail. The houses are all on the north side of the road facing south. The avenue is Zero Avenue and while it may not be the best sounding address in Canada it is representative of where Canadians like to live. Some facts about Canada:

Canada – it is the second largest country in the world with 10 million square kilometers of land mass that is 7% of the world’s land mass. Its population is approximately 31 million people and growing and is the largest country in land size in the western hemisphere.

90% of Canadians live close to the 6379 km (3955 mile) southern border with the US, the longest open national boundary in the world.

The largest open national border. Zero avenue is the border and kids are out and playing. Across the avenue is Blaine Washington backyards. We see paths from the American backyards to their Canadian friends places. We notice the kids in Washington playing basketball in a lot. The British Columbia kids have street hockey nets in the driveway. Do they take turns dominating each others sport? Kids ,just want to have fun.

Its fun for us. The CanAm couple walking along their border. Zoey runs in one of her favorite places, a ditch with running water, one leg in the USA and two legs in Canada.

Zero avenue ends at the Peace Arch border crossing. Its a busy place anytime and on this Easter weekend when we visited on foot we were glad to not be in the miles of vehicles waiting to cross.

Here’s what Wikipedia has to say about the Peace Arch:

The Peace Arch is a gateway-type monument situated on the Canada-United States border between the communities of Blaine, Washington and Surrey, British Columbia. The Peace Arch, standing 20.5 meters tall, was built by Sam Hill1921, and commemorates the signing of the Treaty of Ghent in 1814. The monument is built on the exact United States–Canada boundary, between Interstate 5 and B.C. Highway 99, in the grass median between the northbound and southbound lanes. The Peace Arch has the flags of the U.S. and Canada mounted on its crown, and two inscriptions on both sides of its frieze. The inscription on the U.S. side of the Peace Arch reads “Children of a common mother”, and the words on the Canadian side read “Brethren dwelling together in unity”. Within the arch, each side has an iron gate hinged on either side of the border with an inscription above reading “May these gates never be closed”. This signifies the fact that both countries would have to consent for the border to be closed. Peace Arch ParkPeace Arch Provincial Park on the Canadian side and Peace Arch State Park on the American side of the border. Within the park is a major border crossing which has never closed, symbolising a long history of peace between the two nations. and dedicated in September of a long time ago.

In Canada, the crossing is officially named Douglas, in honour of Sir James Douglas, the first governor of the Colony of British Columbia. Because of the Peace Arch monument, however, the border crossing between Surrey and Blaine is popularly known as the “Peace Arch Border Crossing,” one of the busiest border crossings between Canada and the United States. It is the busiest such crossing west of Detroit.

After taking a few photos and letting Zoey run around in the U.S.A. it was time to head back to Canada.We had crossed the border in the truck and trailer a fews days earlier. The Canada customs had the usual questions as to citizenship, nature of our visit, items carried and so forth. This border crossing was even easier, as seen below:

Down the avenue and back to the RV Park. There maybe better countries in the world to live in. But we doubt it,

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Ok… hold on just one cotton pickin minute!!! Where is the border patrol? Where are the dogs? Dont we have men with guns patroling our borders? I guess not, it seems I now have proof they will let just about anyone in!!\

Hahahaha. just kidding

That wall has to be the teeniest thing I have ever seen? I imagined a big, gigantic wall, with an isle where men walk and patrol, almost like protecting a castle. 🙂

This story is very funny, and I can tell you got a kick out of the 3 legged, dog earred, dog walking in two countries. Reminds me of one of my favorite books “A Walk to remember” The girl wanted to be in two places at once….. WEll, yanno, you may just have to read it.

Thanks for the laughs, it is great to hear your words from the CanAm couple and how they are!!!(cuz you know Paula talks alot) hahahahah just kidding!

Ditto Kim’s comments. (The 3-legged dog and all)
Loved the history lesson. I haven’t really thought about the border up there too much, I guess that’s a good thing.
Love the pictures, looks beautiful.
I agree, we live in a great country (countries)!
Thanks, Keith & Paula for staying in touch.

Makes you wonder why either country places so much emphasis on proper ID or passports when so many places like these exist along our borders, not to mention coastlines, eh? (Couldn’t resist finishing my sentence with a Canadianism.)

In New England the border is littered with crossings the snowmobilers play on during the winter. I’ve ridden my bicycle right up to the border on old double tracks and logging roads. No border agents, only moose. 🙂